Thursday, March 15, 2012

Greater Inspiration

This is a technique that I have used successfully to help people get more insight and inspiration from their personal scripture study.  It is written for the LDS population but if you are not LDS you can use the same process with an inspirational book of your choice.

When the Book of Mormon prophet, Nephi asked to see the vision that his father had seen an angel of the Lord appeared to him and instructed him to look.  Then the angel asked, "What do you see?" and finally "What does it mean."  This model can be applied to our personal scripture study.  
 
LOOK:  LOOK  in the scriptures and read a few verses.
 
SEE: Write down what you SEE in a verse or passage that seems to stand out or be significant to you. 

MEANS:  Then write what that verse MEANS for you right now in your personal life or in your parenting.

MORE: Next follow the counsel and example of Elder Scott in his October 2009 General Conference address, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance" which is quoted below and ask the Lord in your mind if there is MORE that he would have you understand from this scriptural passage.

FEEL:  Now record what you FEEL .  Identify if your feelings are consistent with the feelings that confirm truth as defined by the Lord in D&C 11:12-14 in that they have enlighted your mind and filled your soul with joy.

DO: There may also be impressions regarding what the Lord would have you DO.  President Henry B. Eyring has noted that "…the effect of sincere prayer and of careful scripture study is to always feel an urging to do things."  To Draw Closer To God, Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City: 1997, p. 151

Elder Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance," October 2009 General Conference
Richard G. Scott
"…strong impressions began to flow to me again. I wrote them down…. I sought a more private location, where I continued to write the feelings that flooded into my mind and heart as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feelings I had received to determine if I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application in my own life.
Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace came, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask, "Was there yet more to be given?" I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impressions, pondering, and praying for confirmation was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, "Is there more I should know?" And there was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could hope to obtain in this life. Had I not responded to the first impressions and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance.

What I have described is not an isolated experience. It embodies several true principles regarding communication from the Lord to His children here on earth. I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you."